House Democrats are readying a package of bills for next week that will likely include a significant increase in the federal debt ceiling and tens of billions of dollars for job creation, hoping to clear the decks of two key issues before Congress adjourns for the year.

After dozens of congressional hearings in the wake of the U.S. financial system collapse, the U.S. House of Representatives has begun to begin debate on major legislation supported by President Barack Obama designed to overhaul the financial system and provide more security for and boost the confidence of investors through tighter regulation.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer on Monday said Republicans have failed the test of leadership by refusing to come to the table on the big issues facing the country, offering a preview of a line of attack in next year's campaigns.

Tonight, President Obama spoke about the reality of these hard times, as well as the determination and optimism that have helped America overcome hardship in the past--the same qualities that are essential to our recovery today.

Republican claims on fiscal discipline go against their record of not paying for things and increasing spending, as well as implementing economic policies that helped create the deepest recession in generations.

When President Obama spoke to the Democratic Caucus this month, he took a moment to remind each of us how and why we were called to public service: ‘We were willing to stand up in the public square, risk loss, risk embarrassment, because we knew in our hearts that something wasn’t right.’